This Sunday, May 11, the football world will come to a halt as Barcelona and Real Madrid clash in a decisive edition of El Clásico, corresponding to Matchday 35 of LaLiga EA Sports. With just four rounds remaining, this match could determine the fate of the 2024–25 Spanish league title. Barcelona leads the table with 79 points, followed by Real Madrid on 75.

Barcelona: Domestic Dominance, European Heartbreak

Under Hansi Flick, Barcelona has enjoyed an impressive domestic campaign, winning both the Spanish Super Cup and the Copa del Rey, each with victories over Real Madrid. Moreover, the Catalans have dominated head-to-head clashes this season, winning all three Clásicos, including a 4-0 thrashing at the Santiago Bernabéu.

However, their recent elimination in the Champions League semifinals against Inter Milan (7-6 on aggregate) may have left a psychological toll. Despite that, Flick remains confident:

“We’re ready for the final push in LaLiga.”

In terms of personnel, there are doubts over the availability of Robert Lewandowski, who is recovering from a muscle injury. The Polish striker leads the Pichichi race with 25 goals, just ahead of Kylian Mbappé, who has 24 for Madrid.

Real Madrid: One Last Shot at Redemption

Carlo Ancelotti’s squad is looking to salvage a trophyless season. A win in El Clásico would narrow the gap to just one point and reignite their hopes of a league triumph.

The Merengues come in with four straight LaLiga wins, but face major setbacks in defense: Antonio Rüdiger, Éder Militão, David Alaba, Dani Carvajal, and Eduardo Camavinga are all ruled out. Thibaut Courtois will be crucial in goal as Madrid aims to hold firm against Barça’s attack.

Form, Head-to-Head, and Motivation

• Recent form : Both sides arrive on four-game LaLiga winning streaks.
• Head-to-head : Barcelona has won all three Clásicos this season.
• Momentum : Barça wants to cap off a strong domestic run; Madrid must win to stay alive.

Despite their Champions League exit, Barcelona appears to have the upper hand, given their clean sweep in Clásicos and a chance to practically seal the league title with a win. Real Madrid, on the other hand, enters with nothing to lose and everything to fight for — making this one of the most emotionally charged Clásicos in recent memory.